“I’m being driven out of town.” That’s the lament of
Adam Eidinger, standing on the steps of his basement Adams Morgan shop, Capitol Hemp, in front
of the big plastic sign that announces “store closing.” He’s frustrated and angry
about the events of the past several months that got him to this point, and a closing
date of September 7, but he’s mindful of the authorities. He doesn’t want to say or
do anything that would upset the police or the courts. His partner,
Alan Amsterdam, is even more cautious; he won’t agree to talk on the record or be photographed.

It’s been like this for Eidinger and Amsterdam since last October, when the police
raided their 18th Street store and another one at Fifth and H streets in Chinatown.
The stores boasted “the highest-quality products made from industrial hemp” and an
extensive collection of “artisan” glass water pipes and cigarette papers. The police
saw it another way.

Advertisement

All the employees were arrested in the raid, though charges against them were later
dropped. Only Eidinger and Amsterdam were charged under DC’s drug paraphernalia law,
and they’ve been in and out of the courts since, trying to come to an agreement with
the US Attorney’s Office, which handles Washington drug cases. When Eidinger last
went to court, he says, the judge dismissed the charges against him. But Amsterdam
has a court date on September 13—by which point, Eidinger says, there will be no more
Capitol Hemp.

What Eidinger wants is for the prosecutor to abide by an agreement made with his lawyers
to give back the cash and merchandise seized in the raid, amounting to about $3,800
and some cigarette papers. A lot more was seized, he says, “but it’s now damaged or
missing.” He puts the value at tens of thousands of dollars. “Water pipes we sell
that were very rare were destroyed. Dozens of large glass pipes were destroyed. They
were works of art. One retailed for $6,000.”

Eidinger is bitter because he feels he and Amsterdam kept to their part of the deal—to
eventually close the stores. The Chinatown store is already closed. “We did all our
community service, 32 hours,” he says. “From our perspective, we kept to the spirit
of the agreement. It seems the government has fallen through, but we don’t want to
argue this out in court. We want to avoid a trial.”

In an earlier interview with
The Washingtonian,
Eidinger made it clear that Capitol Hemp did not dispense marijuana. “Do you think
I’m crazy? I’m not crazy,” he said. But today he appreciates the irony that Washington
is slowly moving toward the opening of medical marijuana dispensaries, though the
program has hit a variety of snags and delays. “I hope the program gets off the ground,”
he says. “But it was set up by someone who doesn’t know anything about cannabis, [at-large
City Council member]
David Catania. We need a medical marijuana patients’ rights law.”

Eidinger is among those who applied to the DC
Department of Health to win one of the
few licenses for marijuana grow centers and dispensaries, but
he did not make the
cut. The five designated cultivation centers were announced in
the spring, and in
July the city named the four official dispensaries, but an
official start date for
the program has yet to be announced. The delays, according to
officials, stem from
the licensing process and construction issues.

“There could be a lawsuit against DC for the delays and costs,” says Eidinger. “We
have the largest per-capita marijuana use of any East Coast city. Tons of it is being
provided by the black market. Most of the high grade sold in DC is coming from the
West Coast. The low grade is still coming from Mexico.” He wonders if the delay in
medical marijuana implementation has to do in some part with the power of the black
market, which he would like to see thwarted. “If [DC] would just implement the program
that is on the books, we would have medical marijuana for those who need it and no
one would have to go to jail.” Eidinger says he has a doctor’s recommendation to use
medical marijuana to treat the pain from arthritis in his knee.

Eidinger, who also has a public relations business, is philosophical about not being
in the medical marijuana business. “Looking at all the delays there have been, we
would have spent $150,000 by now, with nothing.”

The future? “It’s really tough for me. I’d really like to keep a hemp store in DC,
for the clothing. But my partner has talked about going to the suburbs.”

Read Next

LYP-Nike as a historic brand is popular in all over the world,nike australia occupies a very important position. No matter what age the person will have a pair of Nike Shoes. This shows that people love the Nike.nike shoes australia's success depends largely on accurate market positioning and excellent quality. A lot of people are eager to buy cheap nike shoes, stores often only discount after last season's, how to buy a pair of cheap Nike? Now you can come to nike shoes online store. You can buy an ultra-low price of one pair of the latest nike free,nike sb.Or the girls favorite nike heels!Whether you own a pair of nike shoes to the face of such temptation, you should be in this hot summer,let your feet enjoy it.

Once you wear this beautiful, elegant, sexy herve leger sale shop, you will immediately love it. Buy now cheap herve leger shop enjoy take one week to your door. They have become the most loyal fans in herve leger dress sale. Herve leger is equal to the charm of the Hollywood stars. Buy now herve leger dress free shipping. You herve leger dress clothing close friends as human beings, especially women, is necessary and important to the modern women shop herve leger dress.It is really nice of you to share the excellent shoes information to others.herve leger bandage dresses with beautiful clothes,herve leger dresses have the best durability, is to use artificial silk, nylon,herve leger dress shop spandex clothing popular with the people around the world of harmony. Ladies, show the perfect body for clothes.

christian louboutin sale is french hot brand in the world,We provide different kinds of christian louboutin usa. Choose the woman wearing louboutin slingback, often has realised that many men somehow to high-heeled shoes have deep interest, wear cheap christian louboutin sneakers can easily outright conquest many men, can easily get many men worship,can easily make many men excited.In fashionable arena occupies a place of christian louboutin ankle boot forever and always makes women fascination.christian louboutin pumps foot that one wipe enthusiastic red, no matter how plain clothes, they were unable to hide the hostess as fire the lively personality.christian louboutin sandals is fashionable and beautiful, recently new appearance of new women's sandals, presenting an one colour profusion, design and material collocation also ingenuity, pretty, both restoring ancient ways, full of female lasting appeal, sweet call a person fondle admiringly.christian louboutin 2012 is fashionable and beautiful, recently new appearance of new women's sandals, presenting an one colour profusion, design and material collocation also ingenuity, pretty, both restoring ancient ways, full of female lasting appeal, sweet call a person fondle admiringly.Delicate the luxury of girl for oneself of each clothes to acquire a pair of high heels to match, but always than a double take christian louboutin ankle boots to reality.A pair of shoes match different dress, you can mature, can also be lovely, shoes with a woman share experience, no matter you are in the life which stage, whether a portly figure or thin, christian louboutin sales store always with you.But this kind of pretty woman flavour, just a kind of thin with the christian louboutin high boots predraft high-heeled shoes peculiar patents.

nike high heels as a classic in nike numerous series is popular in the majority of female friends.In 2012 summer,Nike released a slew of new,including nike heels,jordan heels get consumers alike.nike high heels australia store have hundreds of styles,every nike dunk high heels are carefully selected.The feedback has been supporting our new and old customers,all our goods are at the lowest discount sales.And you do not have to worry about that we have any quality problems.Because all of our nike high heels shoes are made ​​to order directly from the factory,no tax,so our prices are far lower than the stores.If you are a passion for the Nike Madam,Please come to our store to buy it.

NIKE name, in the eyes of Westerners was very lucky, easy to read and easy to remember,it is known.nike shoes trademark symbol of the Greek goddess of victory wings of feathers,representing the speed, but also represents a dynamic and gentle.nike australia's trademark,the pattern is a small hook shape concise,rapid as lightning,and a look reminiscent of the speed and explosiveness of nike shoes australia.For the first time named "Nike" athletic shoes, soles square convex tablets to enhance the stability, the body of the shoe on both sides of the knife-shaped curved hook,a symbol of the wings of the goddess.God's wings.nike shoes online store for Australian consumers,sell cheap nike shoes.Our aim is to let people around the world dressed in Nike. Whether you want to nike shox,nike dunk,or nike free,you can certainly find in our mall. We will provide you with the best online service!